Pregnancy Week Eleven
Baby’s Development
It’s your baby’s second week as a fetus, and it’s now big enough to cradle in the palm of your hand. Fetuses at this stage generally measure between 1.75 and 2.40 inches and weigh approximately 3/10th of an ounce- roughly the size and weight of a small lime.
During the eleventh week of gestation, your baby’s last amphibian trait disappears as its fingers separate, losing the webbing that has joined them until this point. They’ve even grown ten little fingernails! Ultrasounds show fetuses of this age opening and closing their hands into fists as well as practicing ‘breathing’ by swallowing amniotic fluid. Although unable to determine gender with any accuracy until eighteen weeks, your fetus is displaying the genitalia that will determine whether you decide on a pink layette or a blue one.
If you visit your doctor or obstetrician this week, be sure to ask to hear your little one’s heart beat. It will be very faint at this time and it may take a few minutes for your doctor to find it. Be patient! The Doppler machine should be able to detect the tell tale swoosh of your little one’s heart, reminding you of the little life steadily growing inside of you.
Your Body and Emotions
Weight gain during pregnancy is a massive issue for most women. For some the idea that they must gain at least 25-35 pounds is as terrifying as being told they must gain 100.
It’s a sad fact that many women battle with society’s pressure to be thin their entire lives – even when they’re pregnant. Being weighed monthly, then weekly at your appointments may be too much for you and some women have been known to restrict their diets in order to avoid gaining too much as their pregnancy progresses. This is dangerous! Your growing baby needs you to supply it with all the right nutrition and if he doesn’t get it from your daily diet, he’ll start to take it from your muscles and bones. Babies born to women who diet throughout pregnancy are at a much higher risk for illness and abnormal development than those that follow a sensible, pregnancy friendly eating plan.
You may gain ten pounds in your first trimester or you may gain none at all! If you are eating healthy and in reasonable amounts, there is no need for you to panic. Some women consider pregnancy to be an eating ‘free for all’, especially after a lifetime of dieting. Remember that you only need 300-500 extra calories a day to build a baby. Eating too much and gaining too much weight can cause just as many problems as under eating for both you and your baby. The best advice is simply to eat to hunger and drink to thirst. When your body asks for something, don’t hesitate to supply it and in the amount that is satisfying.
Dad’s Tips
She’s exhausted, she’s sick and she’s the moodiest she’s ever been. You may be feeling the same these days as you do your best to nurture her and make her feel at ease. Now…add cleaning up the house to the list! Chances are she really doesn’t feel like lugging a vacuum around or spending a lot of time scrubbing and shining. If you shared chores evenly prior to her pregnancy, you probably have to pick up her slack. If she did most or all of it, you’re probably doing it for the first time. Give yourself credit. Allowing her the freedom to relax guilt free is an amazing gift to her right now. She’ll appreciate your efforts more than you know and you can be guaranteed you’ll get rave reviews when she’s talking to her girlfriends.